Ethanol is known to potentiate GABA receptors and
inhibit glutamate receptors in the brain. We hypothesized that ethanol would
alter brain GABA and possibly glutamate levels in a time-dependent manner.
Intravenous infusions of ethanol were performed during J-edited MRS
measurements of GABA and other compounds in the occipital lobe. GABA and
myoinositol were reduced significantly during the infusion, glutamate rose
transiently and returned to starting levels, and no changes were seen in tissue
water, total creatine, choline, or other metabolites. Brain ethanol closely
tracked the breath alcohol, while venous ethanol lagged.